Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. On the day corresponding to November 1 on contemporary calendars, the new year was believed to begin. That date was considered the beginning of the winter period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. 

During the Samhain festival the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year were believed to journey to the otherworld. People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was in those ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day. The period was also thought to be favourable for divination on matters such as marriage, health, and death. 

Join award-winning flash fiction writer and The Phare co-editor, Rebecca Klassen, for our write-to-a-prompt Halloween flash workshop. We’ll be using news articles, images/pieces of art as creative springboards for flash, micro and short stories. There’ll be time to write, share and discuss your Halloween-inspired work.

This is an online event. A link will be emailed to you a few days before the event date.